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It seems every time we click on the television to watch our favorite tennis matches, there is another taped shoulder greeting our eyes…

Last week we spoke to the common story of tennis injuries among juniors. Yet, injuries in the sport of tennis are not exclusive to juniors alone. Many adult pros suffer from the same arm pains that plague tennis players more often than not. Whether it’s shoulder pain, tennis elbow pain, or wrist pain – it’s still pain.

Tennis Racquets Down: Roddick and Clijsters Retire

Mere weeks ago, at the 2012 U.S. Open, both Kim Clijsters and Andy Roddick announced their retirement, willingly storing their tennis racquets on the shelf (so to speak). Injuries were not cited as a reason, but it’s understood that both of these top players had been down the injury road not too long ago.

In April of 2011, Kim Clijsters’ experienced both shoulder and ankle injuries. Having taken time off to heal her shoulder, she also endured a bad ankle sprain. This kept her off the court for quite a few weeks and put the French Open and Wimbledon matches in front of her at significant risk.

Only one month later, in May of 2011, Andy Roddick, who had previously complained of shoulder pain as early as the 2010 Australian Open, withdrew from the 2011 French Open with a shoulder injury. His absence at this tournament came as a huge disappointment for American tennis fans. The pro player, who won a slam back in the 2003 U.S. Open, was forced to pull out of his doubles event and his singles match.

In the public eye, the Clijsters and Roddick retirements were not pinned on tennis injuries. It’s poignant, however, that both of these spirited players had to endure such weakening injuries only a year before they chose to leave the game. We know the media paints a pretty picture when our favorite pros decide to step out of the limelight, but we also know that tennis arm injuries can be devastating to the body (and a pro career).

Concerned that you’re playing with the wrong tennis racquet?Don’t be afraid to share your concern. Join the movement for raising awareness of injuries present in the tennis industry by filling out the ITF Injury Awareness Petition.

Has your tennis racquet caused injury to your arm? Visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website to Report Your Injury. We encourage any of our readers who’ve found that a particular racquet has caused damage to their arm to report their findings to organizations that will listen.